Online Education

Whether you are a prospective student seeking online degree programs, a current student
looking for flexible coursework options, a working professional hoping to return to
school, or a high-schooler interested in college-level classes, Southwest Baptist
University offers a variety of online options to make SBU academics convenient and
available to you, no matter your location or schedule.

Online Course OPtions

As an SBU student, you can incorporate online courses into your schedule to help you meet graduate requirements, alleviate a packed semester,
or study material at your own pace. Online classes are also open to high school students
interested in beginning college coursework through Online Dual Credit.

Online Learning

These courses are perfect for you if you are an undergraduate student trying to meet
graduation requirements but are having difficulty fitting certain courses into a packed
class schedule. These courses are available during semesters and summer or winter
terms and bring you into community with other online learners.

Online Learning is open to current SBU students. Your academic advisor will directly
enroll you in Online Learning courses. Talk to your academic advisor or call (417)
328-1499 for more information.

Online Independent Study

Online Independent Study (OLIS) is ideal if you want to take SBU courses, but would
like to learn at your own pace outside of a conventional classroom environment. You
may start these open-enrollment courses anytime and have four months to complete the
material (you may request a two-month extension if needed).

To enroll in Online Independent Study, fill out and return the Enrollment Form directly to the Department of Extended Learning. If you are a current SBU student
pursuing Online Independent Study, you also will need your academic advisor’s approval
to enroll. Current SBU students are allowed to take up to two online independent study
courses at a time. Call (417) 328-1599 for more information.

Please note that there are specific academic requirements for students enrolling in
OLIS courses. Refer to the OLIS Academic Requirements sheet for details.

State authorization

Southwest Baptist University has been approved by Missouri to participate in the National
Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education.

"The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement is an agreement among member states,
districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate
offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended
to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions
based in another state. SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by
four regional education compacts." (http://www.nc-sara.org)

Online Degree Programs

Online degree programs through SBU make achieving your educational goals more attainable
than ever. You can pursue fully online degrees, as well as programs incorporating
some classroom time in a hybrid online format. Online degree programs are available
in the areas of nursing/health sciences and graduate education.

Nursing/Health Sciences:

Associate of Applied Sciences (online/classroom hybrid)

Associate of Science in Health Sciences (online)

Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (online)

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (online)

Master of Science in Nursing (online/classroom hybrid)

For information about online nursing/health sciences programs, contact Charlie Hungerford,
director of admissions for Mercy College of Nursing and Health Sciences of SBU, at
(417) 820-3272 or chungerford@SBUniv.edu.

Graduate Education:

Master of Science in Education - Curriculum and Instruction (available online or as
an online/classroom hybrid)